It was a Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 1994 (opening day of third season); I began the morning with a 45-minute drive outside of Grand Junction, Colorado to a hunting area I've known for years. My hunting companions were Mark Morrow and Trent Wright. We got to our destination about half an hour before sunrise and discovered other hunters were already there. Knowing the area, I decided to approach a different canyon. I decided to work the bottom of the canyon and put my two friends on the ridges, hopefully pushing some deer back towards them.

Todd McKay with his 42" wide Colorado buck that socres 270 3/8 non-typical B&C

As I dropped into the canyon I heard movement ahead of me, so I dropped half way and skirted along the rim of the canyon. Neither hearing nor seeing any movement, I moved slowly for approximately half an hour. I was walking along a steep slope when I first noticed this monster deer. I had heard stories that there was a monster like this, but I couldn't believe my own eyes. About 350 yards across a small canyon he was facing straight on to me. I was looking into the sun at him, and he had to have seen me but he didn't move. He seemed to stare directly at me with a slight movement of his head from side to side. I was in the open on the sunny side of a hill, so when I saw him I hit the ground. I landed in an awkward position and I couldn't take aim, so I decided to move behind a cedar tree about five yards away. The inability to see through the tree clearly to get a good shot and not wanting to break any branches to do so prompted me to move again.

I noticed a dead cedar another five yards away down from me. The cedar was just the right height with a limb out to the side for a perfect rest. All this time the deer remained motionless. The sun at his back in the distance and his body position towards me made for a very difficult shot. Ready to fire at any time I decided to wait for him to turn to the side hoping for a broadside shot at him, but he didn't move and didn't seem to want to move.

If anybody wants to see the deer mount and visit with the hunter, Todd McKay, the trophy can be seen at Mt. Garfield Bed & Breakfast 3355 F Rd. in Clifton, CO 81520 Phone 800-547-9108.